Collapsible shutter device



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 z. RIEDER COLLAPSIBLE SHUTTER DEVICE July 26, 1966 Filed Jan. 6, 1964 July 26, 1966 Z. RI'EDE'R 3,262,488

GOLLAPSIBLE SHUTTER DEVICE Filed Jan. 6, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ZoZZan Fieder BY WW ATTUR 5.

July 26, 1966 2. RIEDER COLLAPSIBLE SHUTTER DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan- 6, 1964 INVENTOR.

Flea er TTDRN .51

United States Patent 3,262,488 CULLAPSIBLE SHUTTER DEVICE Zoltan Rieder, 569 W. 192ml St, New York, NY. Filed Jan. 6,1964, Ser. No. 335,939

2 Claims. (Cl. 160-202) This invention concerns a collapsible shutter device having vertical panels for closing openings in windows, doors, and the like.

The device embodying the invention may serve as a blind for a window, a retractable door for a garage, or in any number of other applications where a collapsible closure is required for a building or room opening. According to the invention a plurality of panels are slidahly carried by a slotted trackway. The panels are advanced and retracted by cords which are engaged on rotatable pulleys. The cords can be driven by manually operated pulleys or by motor driven pulleys. The panels may be removably mounted on wheeled carriages for in terchanging them and to facilitate installation. The panels or carriages are linked so that extension or retraction of one panel moves an adjacent panel.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a collapsible shutter or closure device for a framed opening of a window, 'door or the like, in which a plurality of vertically disposed panels are slidably mounted on horizontal trackways.

Another object is to provide a shutter or closure protective device against radiation fallout, and as a blackout shutter.

Another object is to provide a shutter or closure device as described, wherein the panels are removably secured to carriages which ride on a trackway.

A further object is to provide a shutter or closure device as described, with means whereby the several panels or carriages are linked together, so that each panel or carriage moves an adjacent one as the panels are extended and retracted.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a closure or shutter device embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1, parts being broken away.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4% of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a panel forming part of the device of FIGS. 1-4, showing the front side thereof.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of part of the panel of FIG. 5, showing the rear side thereof.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a trackway assembly, parts being broken away.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a modified form of carriage.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a trackway block employed with the device of FIG. 8.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown the device installed in a rectangular frame 22 which in turn frames a doorway, window opening, or other opening to be provided with an extensible and retractable closure embodying the invention. The frame has vertical side walls 23, 24, a horizontal bottom bar or sill 25 and a horizontal top bar 26.

Two identical horizontal trackway blocks 30 are provided for device 20. Each block is arranged as best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7. The :block has a plurality of straight rails 32 spaced apart by'spacer plates 33' to define narrow slots'35 between the rails. Bolts 34 secured by nuts 36 hold the rails and plates in a unitary assembly. The rails and slots define trackways for panels P of the device. The panels P are respectively designated P1P 5.

It is to he understood that the bottom trackway block 30 may be omitted if so desired and a suitable ornamented weight may be attached to the bottom of each sliding panel.

Each panel P, as best shown in 'FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6, includes a rectangular flat plate 4-2 made of metal, wood, plastic, or composition material. The upper edge'of the plate is seated securely in a groove 43 at the underside of a cylindrical bar 44. The plate 42 extends through any one of slots in the upper block 30 and into an aligned slot 35' in the bottom block 30 see FIG. 3. Each bar 44 rides on the upper smooth surfaces of the two adjacent rails 32 of the upper block 30 On one side of the bar 44 is a longitudinally extending groove 45. On the other side of each bar 44 near the right end as viewed in FIG. 6, or left end as viewed in FIG. 2 is a radially extending pin 46 which slidably engages in groove of the adjacent bar.

In order to advance or retract the panels in their planes or laterally of and within frame 22, there is provided an arrangement of pulleys on which is engaged a cord 50. One end of the cord is secured to a pin 52 extending upwardly from the bar 44 of the extreme right, foremost panel P1. The end of the cord extends from right to left as viewed in FIG. 1, then around and over pulley 47 secured to the inner side of vertical frame wall 23. The cord then extends downwardly to a drive pulley 48 carried on a shaft 49; see FIG. 4. This shaft is rotatably journaled in a bracket 51 mounted on side wall 23 of the frame. Secured to the outer or forward end of the shaft is a hand wheel 54 which can be manually turned for turning pulley 48. A crank 55 can be engaged in a noncircular hole 56 in the hub of wheel 54 for turning the pulley 48 at a faster speed.

The cord 50 is wound around pulley 48 and then extends upwardly therefrom to a pulley 58 secured at the left end of the underside of top bar 26 of the frame. The cord passes over pulley 58 and then to the right to pulley 60 secured at the right end of the underside of top bar 26. The cord then passes around pulley 60 and terminates at pin 52 where it is tied. The opposite ends of trackway block 30 are supported on narrow ledges 63, 64 at right and left side walls 23, 24 of the frame. The bottom block 30 may be removably secured to the bottom bar 25 of the frame by any desired means. If desired, a fascia board 65 shown in FIG. 3 may be secured to block 30 in a horizontal position across the frame, to conceal the upper pulleys, bars 44 and the horizontal portions of the cord 50. Spacer 33' on block 30 can be recessed to pro-- vide a passage for vertical courses of cord 50.

In operation of the closure device, hand wheel 54 is turned clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1 to retract the panels to the left and is turned counterclockwise to extend the panels to the right. The cord 50 actually pulls only the foremost panel P1 to the right or left as the hand wheel 54 is turned. The pin 46 of bar 44 on panel P1 is engaged in the groove 45 of the adjacent bar 44 on panel P2. When panel P1 moves to the right it pulls panel P2 along as pin 46 reaches the right end of groove 45 in bar 44 of panel P2. When pin 46 reaches the left end of groove 45 in bar 44 of panel P2 as panel P1 moves to the left, panel P2 is pulled along. Panel P2 in turn pulls the next panel P3 which pulls panel P4. In device 20, the left end panel P5 is stationary but it may also be movable if the frame 22 is widened to allow space for movement, and blocks and 30 are correspondingly lengthened.

In order to remove any one of the panels P from the device 20, it is necessary to remove the upper traekway block 30 from the frame '22. The panels can be pulled upwardly out of slots 35. The pins 46 can be disengaged from grooves 45 after the panels are partially pulled out of slots 35, by bending the panels apart slightly.

FIG. 8 shows construction of another panel assembly P which can be used in place of panel P. The panel assembly includes an upper carriage C having a rectangular bar 44. 70 in which are secured four wheels 72 preferably made of nylon or other smooth material. The wheels are arrange-d in pairs at opposite ends of the bar with each pair of wheels held rotatably by a transverse pin 74; see FIGS. 8 and 9. A flat guide plate 75 is secured in groove 43 at the underside of the bar. The plate 75 is normally disposed in a vertical position in the slot of the upper trackway block. The lower end of the plate 75 is formed with a cylindrical ridge or molding 77. This ridge can be detachably engaged in a correspondingly shaped cylindrical groove or recess in the upper edge of a rectangular panel plate. Each bar 44' has a longitudinal groove 45 on one side and a lateral pin 46' on the other side near one end.

The traekway blocks 30* and 30 may be replaced by two identical blocks of simplified, unitary structure, one of which, block 30 is shown best in FIG. 10. Each block has laterally spaced slots of different lengths, each of which accommodates a panel plate. The length of the slot corresponds to the normal traverse or path of the panel plate in the slot during extension and retraction movements of the several panels. A recess 33" cut in one end of block 30 permits passage of vertical courses of cord 50 therethrough. Wheels 72 mounted on the transverse shafts 74 ride on adjacent rails 32.

There has thus been provided according to the invention devices for closing and opening doorways, window openings, and the like by use of vertical panels slidable laterally in their planes. The panels are easily removable when necessary and replacement panels can easily be installed. The devices can be made in any desired widths with more or less than the five or six panel assemblies in each device illustrated in the drawings. They can be made in any necessary height. The panels can be made in any of a large variety of materials, in various thicknesses.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent '1. A closure device for a window opening, doorway and the like, comprising:

a horizontal trackway block including a plurality of laterally spaced parallel rails with slots between the rails;

a plurality of panel assemblies each including a plate having an upper end disposed in one of the slots and slidable horizontally therein;

carriage members on the top of said plates supporting said plates and riding along the rails;

each of said carriage members including a cylindrical bar having a groove at one side and a laterally projecting pin at the other side engaging in the groove of an adjacent bar, said grooves and pins constituting In the underside of the bar are recesses lost-motion means of connection between the carriage members so that movement of any panel assembly in any horizontal direction moves an adjacent panel assembly in the same horizontal direction;

a drive cord, the ends thereof being connected to one of the panel assemblies;

a pulley assembly carrying said drive cord in either of two opposite directions;

and means for driving said cord in one direction to dispose the panel assemblies in an extended array, and for driving the cord in an opposite direction to dispose the panel assemblies in a retracted array, said driving means including a rotatable shaft on the frame for the window opening, a drive pulley fixed on one end of the shaft over which the cord is wound, and a hand wheel fixed on the other end of the shaft for turning the shaft.

2. A closure device for a window opening, doorway and the like, comprising:

a horizontal trackway having a plurality of laterally spaced slots,

a plurality of panel assemblies each including a plate having an upper end disposed in one of the slots and slidable horizontally therein;

carriage members on the top of said plates supporting said plates and riding along the edges of the slots,

each of the carriage members including a cylindrical bar having a groove at one side and a laterally projecting pin at the other side engaging in the groove of an adjacent bar, said grooves and pins constituting lost-motion means of connection between the carriage members, so that movement of any panel assembly in any horizontal direction subsequently moves an adjacent panel assembly in the same horizontal direction;

a drive cord, the ends thereof being connected to one of the panel assemblies;

a pulley assembly carrying said drive cord in either of two opposite directions;

and means for driving said cord in one direction to dispose the panel assemblies in an extended array and for driving the cord in an opposite direction to dispose the panel assemblies in a retracted array, said driving means including a rotatable shaft on the frame for the window opening, a drive pulley fixed on one end of the shaft over which the cord is wound, and a hand wheel fixed on the other end of the shaft for turning the shaft.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 362,602 5/1887 Briggs 193 781,665 2/1905 Kusch 160193 1,400,080 12/ 1921 Kopchuk. 1,489,737 4/1924 Burkart 160202 X 1,648,851 1 1/1927 Lapin 160202 X 2,196,591 4/1940 Kramer 160202 X 2,454,434 11/1948 Cunningham 16040 2,586,792 2/1952 Davidson 160202 X 2,658,571 11/1953 Guth et al. 160197 X 2,833,346 5/1958 Preston 160197 2,850,089 9/1958 Burke 160202 3,082,759 3/1963 David et al. 160202 X 3,103,246 10/1963 Brodsky 160202 X FOREIGN PATENTS 577,600 5/ 1946 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primaly Examiner.

D. L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A CLOSURE DEVICE FOR A WINDOW OPENING, DOORWAY AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING: A HORIZONTAL TRACKWAY HAVING A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY SPACED SLOTS, A PLURALITY OF PANEL ASSEMBLIES EACH INCLUDING A PLATE HAVING AN UPPER END DISPOSED IN ONE OF THE SLOTS AND SLIDABLE HORIZONTALLY THEREIN; CARRIAGE MEMBERS ON THE TOP OF SAID PLATES SUPPORTING SAID PLATES AND RIDING ALONG THE EDGES OF THE SLOTS, EACH OF THE CARRIAGE MEMBERS INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL BAR HAVING A GROOVE AT ONE SIDE AND A LATERALLY PROJECTING PIN AT THE OTHE SIDE ENGAGING IN THE GROOVE OF AN ADJACENT BAR, SAID GROOVES AND PINS CONSTITUTING LOST-MOTION MEANS OF CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CARRIAGE MEMBERS, SO THAT MOVEMENT OF ANY PANEL ASSEMBLY IN ANY HORIZONTAL DIRECTION SUBSEQUENTLY MOVES AN ADJACENT PANEL ASSEMBLY IN THE SAME HORIZONTAL DIRECTION; A DRIVE CORD, THE ENDS THEREOF BEING CONNECTED TO ONE OF THE PANEL ASSEMBLIES; A PULLEY ASSEMBLY CARRYING SAID DRIVE CORD IN EITHER OF TWO OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS; AND MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID CORD IN ONE DIRECTION TO DISPOSE THE PANEL ASSEMBLIES IN AN EXTENDED ARRAY AND FOR DRIVING THE CORD IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO DISPOSE THE PANEL ASSEMBLIES IN A RETRACTED ARRAY, SAID DRIVING MEANS INCLUDING A ROTATABLE SHAFT ON THE FRAME FOR THE WINDOW OPENING, A DRIVE PULLEY FIXED ON ONE END OF THE SHAFT OVER WHICH THE CORD IS WOUND, AND A HAND WHEEL FIXED ON THE OTHER END OF THE SHAFT FOR TURNING THE SHAFT. 